If you're buying a house or thinking of renovating yours, this post is for you! Some desirable items or functions in a home are obvious, maybe they're luxuries or even conveniences you currently live without and can't wait to have (this was me lusting after a washer and dryer after living the NYC apartment life for a decade!). But there are other less well known but amazing upgrades and improvements out there that you may want to consider when buying a house, especially if you're planning to build or renovate. You may have never even heard of some of these things. Simply put, you don't know what you don't know, which is why I've put together this great list of must-haves for your dream home (compiled from lots of research on the web and many Facebook threads)! Did I miss any?? Leave a comment below!
Disclaimer: Affiliate links included below - you don't pay more but we receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking.
KITCHEN
- Double wall ovens - great for cooking multiple items at once during holidays and when entertaining!
- Pot Filler Faucet - no more lugging heavy pots from the sink to the stove!
- Pantry Closet - more closets, everywhere, even the kitchen!
- Slide-out trash bins in cabinets for garbage / recycling / compost - keeping these out of sight but easily accessible is great, but make sure they're hands free, if an open bin of compost might get stinky, maybe a bin that you can pull out with your foot and top will open with the wave of a hand. If you're handy, you can DIY pretty easily with something like this.
- Counter-depth Refrigerator - these are very pricey but may be worth the splurge; not only do they look better not sticking out past the counters, they're also more practical since you don't have to dig to the way back.
- Extra large range hood - great for removing smoke / odor.
- Extra large (deep & wide) undermount sink - undermount sinks are flush with the counters making cleaning up very easy. Many warn against putting it in your island, however, since it can be unsightly having a massive amount of pots and dishes in there when entertaining.
- Smudge-proof stainless steel appliances - do you like constantly wiping off fingerprints and streaks from your fridge, oven, and microwave? Yeah, me neither.
- Soft-closing hinges on all cabinets and drawers - Nice and quiet. Nuff said! Feeling adventurous? Try installing these yourself!
- Garbage disposal - I haven't had one in 20 years and not a day goes by I didn't wish I had one.
- Under-cabinet lighting - looks nice and you can actually see what you're doing when cooking! You can DIY this very easily and cheaply; we "installed" these cordless LED strips in our last home. Stick the self-adhesive magnetic strips to the underside of your cabinets and the light strips latch on by magnet. Simply take down and charge by USB every few days, they even come with a remote!
- Stunning lighting - especially over the island and dining table! Check out these beautiful options at Sofary!
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WHOLE HOUSE SYSTEMS (heating, cooling, plumbing)
- Radiant heat flooring - these can be a more ecologically and budget friendly way to heat your home, plus they feel SO nice on your feet!
- Central air - cooling your home may be pricier with central air, but you can use smart thermostats and zones to keep costs down a bit. Plus, by keeping rooms from getting too hot or humid, you'll lessen risk of mold.
- Central vac - this is a lesser known technology but allows you to plug a special vacuum into the wall and all debris get sucked down into a central tank rather than the vacuum's bag or bin. Personally, I prefer my cordless Dyson, but it can only go for 15 minutes at a time so you have to pick your poison...
- Tankless water heater - in our house, we have a regular water heater and it runs out pretty quickly. We can't run the dishwasher right after someone takes a shower, and can't have simultaneous or even back to back showers (with 5 people in our family this is rough). A tankless water heater is at the top of our must-have list and with it, you'll never run out of hot water again!
- Eggshell finish paint - easier to clean, a must with kids!
- Recessed lighting - our last Brooklyn apartment had not a single ceiling light in the living room. We had to use floor lamps! FLOOR LAMPS!! Not recommended. We currently have recessed lighting everywhere and I'm obsessed!! A decorative piece (like these) in some rooms such as entry way and dining room are nice, as well. On dimmers, even better!
- TONS of outlets - min 4 per room, some with USB (you can DIY with a plug-in surge protector / outlet extender like this that includes 5 regular plugs and 4 USB ports!)
- Eco-Friendly Electricity - think solar paneling, or geothermal. Bonus if you can sell back reserves or bank them in your generator.
- Wooden floors - carpet is harder to clean, and harbors all kinds of allergens lowering air quality.
- Electric blinds - put them on a timer to help waking up easier, or simply shut and open with the click of a button. Consider cordless if little kids will be around. You can get them custom made and installed, or DIY with some on Amazon.
 
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BEDROOMS
- Walk-in closet with built-in organization in main bedroom
- Double the closet size in other bedrooms
- Ceiling fans - can help cut down on heating and cooling usage
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BATHROOMS
- Bidet toilets - don't knock it til you've tried it, take it from someone who's lived in Japan where bidet toilet seats are standard in every home. Also, another toilet paper shortage? No problem!
- Built in shower bench and shelving - just make sure they are designed to drain properly, we had some installed incorrectly and they held water.
- Strong exhaust system - we lived in one NYC apartment with NO bathroom exhaust (just a small window) and no air conditioning. It was a mold magnet!
- Heat lamp or floor - it's not fun freezing before or after a hot shower, or having to drag in a portable heater, am I right?
- Recessed vanity mirror with storage - it looks like a flat mirror, but it opens to provide you all the great storage of a medicine cabinet. Fab!
LIVING ROOM & LAUNDRY
- Fire place - so cozy, and can help cut down heating costs.
- Laundry room on same floor as bedrooms - having to lug laundry up and down several flights of stairs to the basement isn't fun, and if this is your forever home, imagine doing it into your 80s and 90s...
ENTRY / GARAGE / ATTIC / BASEMENT
- Mudroom - can help keep your house cleaner and tidier, and doesn't have to be an eyesore if you have proper storage. Many have it at the front entrance but personally I'd prefer by the back/garage entrance, you can even include a utility sink.
- Finished basement - what's the point of a basement if you can't use it, am I right?! Whether it's a space for the kids to hangout, an office, a guest room, man cave, or a full mother-in-law suite, there's so much potential! Not to mention it'll add huge resale value, and be a safer spot should you find yourself under tornado warning.
- Proper waterproofing of foundation / basement - up here in NY everyone talks about BDry basement and crawlspace waterproofing and encapsulation being a must-splurge, even comes with a lifetime warranty. They service as far west as Illinois, as far south as Georgia, and as far north as Maine.
- Extra spray insulation, especially in attic - will drastically cut down on heat loss and cost.
- Built-in attic stairs - or at least drop down stairs, so you can access the space more easily.
- Video doorbell with 2-way voice - Ring, Arlo, SimpliSafe, Eufy - there are tons to choose from here. We installed the Ring video doorbell in our home a few months ago and love it, see my video installation/review here!
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PATIO / OUTDOORS
- Trex composite decking - no splinters. No sanding, fading, or painting. Trex is all the rage these days. It's eco-friendly too, made of 95% recycled compiste board.
- Stone patio and fire pit - great for entertaining and hanging out on summer evenings!
- Outdoor electric outlets - handy for holiday lights!
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So, yeah, just a FEW must-haves on our home shopping list! HA! Have you renovated your home to include any of the above? Love them, hate them? Are there any great home features you love and recommend that I left off? Share in a comment below!!
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